1
as in to begin
to come into existence
the fight started when one child tripped the other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to commence
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
we'll be ready to start the concert in a moment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to establish
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of
started the impressionist movement in art
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to activate
to cause to function
trying to start the car on a frigid morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
6
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
frightened horses with starting eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in beginning
the point at which something begins
knew from the start of the game that he would win easily
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in initial
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in jumping
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)
I started from my chair when I heard the sudden scream
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in establishing
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of
started the impressionist movement in art
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in activating
to cause to function
trying to start the car on a frigid morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in commencing
to come into existence
the fight started when one child tripped the other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in protruding
to extend outward beyond a usual point
frightened horses with starting eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in launching
to take the first step in (a process or course of action)
we'll be ready to start the concert in a moment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of start
Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2026
Washington had won five of seven games entering Wednesday after starting the season 3-20.
—CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Behind the dry line Tuesday, drier air will move into Central Texas, leading to a slightly cooler start Wednesday under mostly to partly cloudy skies.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 6 Jan. 2026
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Despite being taken out of the starting lineup for Games 6 and 7, center fielder Andy Pages entered the game five pitches prior, and tracked down the ball to send the game into extra innings.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Even parents who don’t trail physically are finding new ways to insert themselves into the college experience—starting with dorm rooms, as The Atlantic has reported.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for start
Verb
Seeds can be sown directly or started indoors.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2026
Washington had won five of seven games entering Wednesday after starting the season 3-20.
—CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
Stroud to a concussion for four games midseason and rally from an 0-3 start to make the postseason for a third straight season.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Behind the dry line Tuesday, drier air will move into Central Texas, leading to a slightly cooler start Wednesday under mostly to partly cloudy skies.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
During his two-season NFL career, Kneeland appeared in 18 games, with four as a starting defensive end.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Despite being taken out of the starting lineup for Games 6 and 7, center fielder Andy Pages entered the game five pitches prior, and tracked down the ball to send the game into extra innings.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
The vacation spot, which is on the grounds of a 17th-century manor, is available for a minimum of two nights starting from £360, or about $470.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Even parents who don’t trail physically are finding new ways to insert themselves into the college experience—starting with dorm rooms, as The Atlantic has reported.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for start
Recent Examples of Synonyms for start
Noun
-
From its beginning, the leaders of the rebellion well understood the global reach and resonance of their great struggle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But that was the beginning of everything for both of us.—
Karen Taylor Bass,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
An initial target of £2,000 had doubled by the time Scunthorpe confirmed on Thursday that he had been discharged from hospital.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The initial childhood of Victor Frankenstein lends itself more to that age of enlightenment.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Moore delivered a commencement address at Lincoln University in Gettysburg in May, the same month Gallego and Khanna paid their own visits.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The actor previously gave a commencement speech at the college in 2021.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Bueckers wasn’t the only former Husky shining on the opening day of Unrivaled’s second season, not even in her own game.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The device, revealed on the opening day of CES in Las Vegas, is designed to sense and interpret brain activity in real time, offering players insights into focus, attention, and cognitive performance during gameplay.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Since its inception in 2013, the festival has taken place in Los Angeles in the fall, showcasing speculative cinema from around the globe.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Since its inception, IEEPA has been invoked 69 times, and no president has ever used it to impose tariffs.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
His first action of the night came after about three minutes into the game, not long after going over to the exercise bike parked just outside the tunnel leading to their locker room, jumping on it while being advised by a member of the Hornets’ performance staff.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Pratt launched his mayoral run on the first anniversary of the Los Angeles fires, which destroyed his and his wife Heidi Montag’s home.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Beijing nearly doubled the rate of expansion at missile production sites in the two years that followed the onset of the war, according to CNN’s satellite imagery analysis of constructed floorspace.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Amid the second surge of the virus, in August 2020, the first ‘covid novel’ arrived—Ali Smith’s Summer, the last of a seasonal quartet, written during Britain’s early lockdown, which includes real-time descriptions of the pandemic’s onset.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Much like Blue Origin’s chief competitor, SpaceX — which has long been a dominant force in the commercial launch business — Blue Origin rockets are designed to be partially reused in order to drive down costs.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The latter has grown into a dominant force in pay-TV, racking up 10 million subscribers just eight years after its launch.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Start.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/start. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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